Steam generator for heaters and infusion strainers



March 173, 1945. "J. R. HERRERA 2,371,328

STEAM GENERATOR FOR HEATERS'AND INFUSION STRAINERS Filed July l, 1942 5 Sheets-sheet l R v A EG' '73 25 24 73 A y o Q 0 o o o Q o o RQ o oo A TTO/VEY:

March 13, 1945. J. H. HERRERA v 2,371,328

STEAM GENERATOR FOR HEATERS AND INFUSION STRAINERS Filed July l, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 13, 1945. J. H. HERRERA 2,371,328

STEAM GENERATR FOR HEATERS AND INFUSION `S'].1:U\IIU3RS Filed July l, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I IN VEN apparatus comprised by this invention.

, generator.

Patented Mar. 13, 1945 `UNITED Vs'reTla1s` PATE Nr orties.

y S'ILEAIMv GENERATOR FOR HEATERS.

measles sweetness Juan PIefiianolez4 Herrera, Habana, lCubay ,Y

Applieasoniiuly 1, 1942, serial No. In Cuba September 9,1941

1` Claim. (Cl. Bin-.2.82).

contained in the usualstrainer device and for manually pouring into the strainer the withdrawn amount of hot water. The present-invention pro-y vides -a pressure steam 'heater which automatically discharges into'the strainerdevice the required amount of hot water in a very short period of time and without necessity of racking hot water by hand, saidpressure steam heater beingassociated with the steam generator and with .the strainer forming part of the The invention is described Vwith reference to the figures of the accompanyingdrawings, of which: f r

Fig, 1 is a front elevational viewofv the steam generator and heater devices forming the subjectmatteror this invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of same; showingthe infusion strainer positioned behind the steam j Fig 3 is an enlarged diametral vertical section view 'of the steam generator and thewater heater mounted above it, on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a partial elevational 'rear view of the steam generator and the heater mounted above it, clearly showing the assemblage of the strainer and of the pressure steam heater assoc'iated with same. f

Fig'. 5 is an enlarged diametral vertical section view of the strainer on line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged diametral vertical section View of the pressure steam heater forlihe. Strainer device, on line 6 6 ofFig. `2 y Fig. 7 is a diametral vertical section view of a coffee-pot water bathvon line L -'l of Fig. 2 and Fig. 8 is a diametral vertical section view o f a steam `heater for mill; or the likt-:gA on line 8-,8 of Fig-.2- l

In the drawinga I is a boiler or steam generator of the vertical lille type, .the cylindricalbody ofv v vljiicmli" is closedagbove and below,. and, which contains, series.. ci?l Avertical tubes 2 annular` `system of arrangement and adapted to. leadjupward the combustion 'gases vfrom liquid fuel' burner V3.. mounted belowthe boiler I.. This construction is not described as it does, not form a part of lthis invention. The boiler I is supported by two, pairs. of diametrally opposed angular plates 4. secured by screws 5Y to the lowerbase of the boiler `I and` by screws 6 to the inner wall ofa cylindrical body 'I concentrically spaced from the periphery of the boiler I and formed by a double wall enclosing an intermediate asbestos liningv 8. The cylindricallbody I is provided at its topwith a ring of angular y section 9 secured .by screws I0 `to the-outer wall-of the body I land the same is provided' at its bottom with an annular disc Iv I havingavertical liange i2y which is secured by screws I 2| to the. outerwall of the body 1. smaller than the lower base of theboiler I for the purpose of serving as a guide` to the combustion gases towardthe annular space I4 separating the cylindrical body 'I from theboiler I and which properly forms a stack` for said gases.

The stack I4 is continued upwards between a metal cylindrical lood5XV I5\ provided exteriorly with a horizontal flange I6 secured by screws I'I on Athe horizontal portion of angular ring 9. A cylindrical tank I8 is concentrically spaced from the cylindrical body .i5 and supported at the mid.` die portion of its lower base by a screw shank I9` screwed at its upper end in a threaded socket 26 formed beneath said rbase and-screwed at its lower end rin a threadedA socket 2l formed at the middle portion of the top of iboiler I. l

The cylindrical'body 'I surrounding the boiler I` is supported by a series of' casting stands 22 to which it is secured by s crews 2 3 and which stands are adapted to rest on any desired supporting surface like that of a table. They uppercylindrical body I5 has its top opening closed by a cover 25 in the shape of a removable dome tting within-said opening andy provided with a horif zontal flange 25.1;0 rest on body I5. The latter body a series of holes 2,6 serving as outlets for the come the upper edge of said bustion gases from burner 3 after they have heated the water 21 in the boiler `I upon circulating through vertical nues 2 and through the annular space I4 between the boiler I 'and'. thecyline drical body 'I and4 after though in smaller'degree, the vwater 28 con,-V teined in tank. I8 upon,circulatingthrough the annular spaceK 243 separating; .the tank Ill` from'A the.

cylindrical body I5. ,Thcztilik 18:15 autornatically.A

The area ofitsv opening I3 is similarly' has 1.1.6,81 'its upper edg .they have also heated,l

wards fronrthe elbow 43.

fed with water through a tube 30 connecting the inner space of same with the inner space of a smaller tank 3| supported by screws 32 on a side of the peripherial wall of body I5 and which tank is provided with an inlet cock 33 mounted on the inner end of a water pipe 34 and automatically operable by a float 35.

The boiler I is fed with water through a tube 36 which passes through the body 1 and through the wall of the boiler and ends outside in a valve box 31 having a valve 38 and supporting a hand feed-cup 39 provided with a cover 40. The steam produced in the boiler I is utilized for heating three funnel-shaped water-bath devices mounted in front of the body 1 and each supported thereon by a horizontal tube 4I passing through the body 1 and through the peripherial wall of the boiler I. Each tube 4I is threadedly connected outside the body 1 with an elbowed tubular coupling 43 to the upper end of which is fitted the lower opening 44 of a heater formed of two sections, viz, an open upper section 45 of cylindrical shape and a lower section 46 of inverted-cone shape closed on top by a horizontal plate 41 serving as a bottom for the upper section 45. The latter section serves to receive the lower cylindrical section 48 of a water-bath tank which has an upper cylindrical section 49 of greater diameter than the lower section 48 and is joined thereto by a horizontal seat flange 5U through which it rests on the upper edge of the upper section 45 of the heater.

The lower section 48 of Ythe bath tank is filled with water 5I and on the horizontal flange 50 is placed a perforated plate 52 on which is positioned a coffee-pot 52' or similar device desired to be heated by the water-bath. The lower space of the funnel 46 forms a steam chamber which is in communication with the atmosphere through a thin tube 53 supported in the vertical branch of the elbow coupling 43 to approach the upper plate 41 and opening at its lower end in the inner cavity of a cylindrical extension 55 projecting down- To the three elbow couplings 43 are threadedly secured three of the branches of a four-branch tube 51, the fourth branch of this tube being connected to another tube 58 provided with a valve 59 and which freely opens into the atmosphere.

The boiler I is also provided with a level indicator 60 mounted outside the body 1 in communication with the interior of the boiler by a tube 6I passing through the body 1.

The steam produced in boiler l is also used to serve two devices for heating a liquid such as milk and mounted at each side of the cylindrical body I5, each heater being supported on the body 1 by a horizontal tube 62 passing through the body 1 and through a hole 63 formed in the periphery of the boiler I. The tube 52 is connected with a union 64 carrying a valve 65 and with a short vertical tube 65 which supports the hollow inverted-cone shaped body 61 forming part of a cylindrical supporting base 68. Each heater consists of a metal cylindrical body 69 open below and integral at its upper edge with a metal frustro-conical tank tapered downwards to form an annular tapering space 1|. The bottom 1li of the tank is above the lower edge oi the cylindrical body 69 to form a chamber 12 beneath said bottom, the inner tank lll being provided with a removable cover 'i3 and an elbow discharge tube 14 projecting to the outside of the cylindrical body 69 through a hole in the latter and providedwith an outer valve 15. l Y Y Y The cylindrical body 69 is supported on the cylindrical base 68 within which it fits and rests on a horizontal flange 16 projecting fromthe cylindrical body, the latter being provided with a vertical slot 11 through which is adapted to pass the horizontal branch of the elbow discharge tube 14 of tank 10.

The frustro-conical body 61 has at its lower apex an opening 1B in which the vertical tube 66 is threadedly connected, and its steam space 19 communicates with the chamber 12 below the bottom 18 of the tank 10 through a U-shaped tube provided with a valve 8| and tube 82 entering horizontally into said chamber 12 beneath the lower edge of the cylindrical body E9.

The cylindrical body 69 has near its upper edge a series of holes 83 serving as outlets for the steam ascending through the annular space 1 I, the discharge of steam through holes 83 serving as an indication for the operator to nearly close the valves E4 and 8| and to leave them open to the minimum necessary to maintain a suitable temperature in the tank 1li.

The steam from boiler I is further used to fury ther heat rapidly the preheated water contained in the tank i8 which may be necessary for a straining operation, said water being automatically supplied to the strainer by means of the following arrangement. To the rear `portion of the wall of the cylindrical body i5 is secured by screws 'I5' the horizontal plate 16 having a downward annular flange 11 at one side of which the plate 19" is rotatably mounted. It is supported on a pivot 18' in lug 11" projecting from the plate 11. Oppositely to said lug 1S projects from the same upper edge the handle 3| adapted to swing the strainer to one side when it is desired to empty iti or to re-ll it with infusion material such asground coee, etc.

The body ill carries at its bottom an inverted conical cavity 82 directly above the discharge opening 63 and said cavity 82' is covered by aninverted glass hollow cone 84 to prevent contacty of the hot infusion with the metal. Withinv the cylindrical body 80 is placed the vessel 85, pref-- erably made of aluminum, which is provided at its upper edge with a horizontal flange 86 which engages the upper edge of the body 80 and the bottom of the vessel has perforations 81 to permit passage of the infusion formed by water and the coiiee or other vegetable 88 which is placed within the vessel 35: The material is covered by a perforated plate 89 provided with a handle 90 to facilitate its removal or placing it in position.'

The plate it has at its middle portion a raised bushing 9| which has an inner threaded surface in Vwhich is-rotatably mounted a screw 92 carrying the injection tube 93 on whose lower end is fixed the cover 34 adapted to fit the upper edge of the vessel 85. A collar 55 on the screw 92 serves for ixing the tube 93 by means of a set screw 96. The bushing 9|, the screw 92 and the collar 95 are inclosed within a bell-shape cover 91 through which passes a horizontal bar 98 pro.- vided with a handle 99 to raise or lower the screw 92 with the cover Q4, when required.

The tube 93 is provided at its upper end with I a valve |00 in communication with a descending porting base |04 is made of metal and has a cen-l tra] cavity |05 closed on top by a thin metal plate |06 of upwardly convex shape to penetrate f into the inner spa-ce of a tank |01 closed `on top and open below and adapted to contain the preheated water received from tank I8 through the lower section of the tube IOI, if the valve |03 is opened. Tube is connected through an elbow |08 with a recess |09 formed'in the upper surface of the base I04. L

The tank |01 rests at its lower edge on a packing ring |I0 lodged in a recess III suitably formed in the upper face of the base I 04, and is rmly retained in this position by means of a clamp ||2 depending from two journals in `diametral alignment. The journals are formed by screws |I3 inserted in sockets II4 on the wall of tank |01, the clamp ||2 having a central boss `II5 in whose interior is threadedly received a screw II6 provided with a lower handle |I1. The point at the upper end of screw |I6 presses against the base of a tubular socket ||8 whose upper end is threadedlycoupled within the lower opening |I9 formed at the central portion of the base |04 and which Asocket is-integral with ahorizontal tube extending to the steam space of the boiler I and serving as a support for the base |04 and the tank |01 through the socket IIB.

To the base |04 opposite the tube IOI is secured an elbow tube |2| whose upper end within the tank |01 is connected to the bottom ofthe housing of a thermic control device |22 which may be of afvolatile liquid type. The lower end of said tube I2| is connected to a tube |23 carrying a valve |24 and is secured to the upper section or the tube |0I at a point |25 above the branch |02. The tank |01 has a level sight window |26.

The operation of the steam heater device |04 in association with the strainer is as follows: 4The valve |03 is opened to allow the tank |01l to be filled to about two thirds of its capacity with hot water from the tank I8 with the valves' |00 and |24 open. After the tank |01 is supplied with suiicient water, the valve |03 is closed. As the base |04 is being continuously heated by the steam from the steam space of the boiler I, it is maintained at such a temperature that the water |21 contained in the tank |01 attains in very short time the necessary temperature for the straining operation. When it has reached this temperature as determined by the thermic control device I22, the top |22' of the bellows expanded by the heated volatile liquid contained therein, closes the inlet of tube |2| and therefore shuts olf the egress of kair and steami The pressure of the steam formed within the tank |01 will be such that it will force the lwater |21 through tube I0| and tube 93 against the cover 89 resting on the coffee or other vegetable material contained in vessel 85, an infusion being thus formed which discharges through the lower opening of the bodyy 80, to be suitably received in a pot |28 placed on the tank |01.

When the tank I 01 is emptied, it can be refilled whenever a new infusion is to be prepared, by simply opening the valve |03. In the interval between two operations the coffee or other vegetable material will be removed from the strainer after the latter has been swung to one side as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the strainer will be charged with a fresh supply of infusion materia1, whereafter it is placed in its normal position beneath the stationary plate 16 by means of the handle 8|.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the shape and construction details of the boiler and theheater devices above described, without thereby altering thel essential character of the invention, which is such as claimed hereinafter. What I claim is:

Infusion apparatus for coffee making devices or the like, comprising in combinationv with a boiler connected with a source of water, a strainer supported on the outside of the boiler, a steam heater closed at its top and having an opening at its bottom, a tube supporting thesteam heater on the outside of vthe boiler and connecting the bottom opening of rthe steam V heater with the steam space of the boiler, a tank closed on top and open at the bottom and resting at its lower opening on the closed top of the steam heater, a packing interposed between the lower edge of the tank and the top of the steam heater, means for resiliently forcing the tank downwardly against the steam heater, a hot water injection tube connect-v air and steam from the ing the tank with the` strainer, a branch tube extending from the injection tube, a valve in said branch between the injection tube and the source of water, and thermostati-c control meansA within the tank adapted to interrupt the discharge of tank when the water in the tank has reached a certain temperature, whereby the pressure attained by the steam generated in the tank automatically forces the hot Water from the tank intok the strainer.

JUAN HERNANDEZ HERRERA. 

